Saints Offense Comes Alive in 11-4 Hammering of Pheasants

ST. PAUL, MNMay 23, 2012

Saints Offense Comes Alive in 11-4 Hammering of Pheasants

May 23, 2012 at 9:50 PM

SIOUX FALLS, SD (May 23, 2012) – This was the offense manager George Tsamis was waiting for when he was putting together his team in the off-season. The St. Paul Saints pounded out 14 hits, scored seven runs in the third and cruised to an 11-4 victory over the Sioux Falls Pheasants on Wednesday night at Sioux Falls Stadium.

The Saints scored at least a run in each of the first three innings and after Willie Cabrera’s double play ground out scored a run in the first, Ole Sheldon delivered his first home run of the season, a solo shot to left, giving the Saints a 2-0 lead. Sheldon’s homer was the 41st of his Saints career tying him with Brent Krause for second on the all-time list.

With the Saints up 3-1 in the third they sent 12 men to the plate and scored seven runs, six with two outs. With one out Cabrera was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a single by Sheldon. With two outs Tanner Townsend singled and Jose Hernandez followed with an RBI single to make it 5-0. Alex Garabedian and Adam Frost added RBI singles to make it 7-0. Jim Rapoport finished the scoring in the inning with a three-run homer to right, his first of the season, giving the Saints a 10-1 lead.

That was all Saints starter Wes Roemer needed as he turned in another superb pitching performance going 7.0 innings allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits while walking two and striking out four.

Jake Krause, pinch hitting in the sixth inning, hit his first professional home run to left, to finish off the scoring for the Saints.

Eight of the nine Saints starters collected a hit, 11 of the 12 players who got into the game reached base safely and five different players collected two hits.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the three game series on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. at Sioux Falls Stadium. The Saints send RHP Alberto Rolon (0-0, 162.00) to the mound against LHP Mitchell Clegg (NR). The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.